Closure feeding and applying mechanism



Nov. 13, 1951 w. E. YzlMlvlriR/IAIW ETAL 2,574,771

cLosuRE FEEDING AND APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1945 5 sheets-sheet i I l l INVENToRs HENHYDKUNRAD; WILLYEZIMMBRMANN Nov. 13, 1951 w. EQZIMMERMANN ETAL 2,574,771

CLOSURE FEEDING AND APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1945 v 5 sheetsfsheet 2 INVENTORS HE Nm' EKnNRAn/LLYEZIMMEHMANN BY l AIT'X Nov. 13, 195] w. E. ZIMMERMANN ETAL l2,574,771

' cLosuRE FEEDING AND APPLYING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 21, 1945 Patented Nov. 13,? 1951 CLOSUREFEEDINGAND APPLYING BIECHANISM A .Willy E. Zimmermann, Chicago, and Henry C. Konrad, Lake Bluff, Ill., assignors to Standard Cap and Seal Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application December Z1, 1945, Serial No. 636,378

1.4 (lllaims.y (Cl. 226-881) This invention relates-to mechanisms for feeding and serving or delivering articles, and more especially to a means for delivering closures to a station where the same are applied to containers.

The invention comprehends the provisionA of apparatus or mechanisms for selectively serving caps or closures to a station from whence they are discharged on to containers for example, milk bottles wherein the process of feeding and applying the closures to the containers is completely automatic.

The invention contemplates a mechanism of this character in which the `presence of a closure or pre-determined number of closures in a serving or delivery chute will temporarily impede the feeding of additional closures to the chute pending the disposition of one or more of the closures from the applying station.

An object of-the invention resides in the provision of a machine incorporating an adjustable closure delivery chute section whereby the position of the closure discharge or applying station associated with the chute may be rendered adaptable to deliver caps or closures to varioustypes and sizes of containers. f Another object of the invention is thesprovision of means for selectively separating and transferring closuresv from a nest or supply thereof to a delivery-chute whichfconveys them to an applying station.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for feeding flexible skirted closures to a delivery chute which is so arranged that the closures move in the chute supported upon the skirted portions thereof thus facilitating the conveyance of the closures to adischarge station.Y

A further object resides in the provision of means for conveying skirted caps or closures to an applying or discharge station `whereby the closures are supported 'through walls ofA the skirted portions so that a coating or impregnation of wax or other non-hardening material upon the caps will not cohere to the walls of the conveying means. s A further object of the invention resides in the provision of simple yet effective means for exracting the lowermost closure from a supply or nest of closures and delivering the selected closure into a serving chute, said means operating in conjunction with means for distorting the lowermost closure whereby the tendency of the closures to cohere together by reason ofwax or 'other coating `upon thec1sures is ,reduced te ,a minimum. V

Cil

Still another object of the invention is the provision of improvedmeans associated with the closure applying station for eiiciently and resiliently delivering a closure or cap upon a receptacle as the latter passes the closure applying station. f

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combination of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the arrangement of our invention as utilized for applying closures to milk bottles or the like;

Figure 2 is a perspective View taken from the delivery chute side of the machine;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the machine of our invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing certain elements forming part of the'invention; i

Figure 5 is`a side elevational view of the machine; Y

Figure 6 is a View of the opposite 'side of the machine to that shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating certain elements forming part of the invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the machine;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view illustrating one of the elements of the invention;

Figure 10 is an end view of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 1l is a fragmentary detail elevational view illustrating an adjusting means for a closure delivery chute section, and

Figure 12 is an elevational view partly'in section showing a typical cap or closure of the character especially adapted for use with our invention.

While we have illustrated the embodiment of our invention as incorporated in a mechanism especially adapted for use in feeding, conveying and applying skirted caps or closures, which may be fabricated of paper, fiber, metal foil or a composite closure formed of such materials, to milk bottles or other containers, it is to be understood that we contemplate the utilization of our invention with any mechanismv where it is desired The bottle conveying mechanism includes a frame I0 upon which is mountedaflexiblefcon- Veyor belt II which conveys or transport bottles I4 into a position to be filled.witnmilkorbther commodity from a receptacle ,or .tank--I5- through the medium of automatic commodity feeding.: de- 1 vices or valves I6. After the bottles or containers have been filled, they are moved .to acap or closure applying station I 96 at which pointtheclosures are applied by the means of our invention to be hereinafter described in detail. The lled `bottles, after receiving the r-skirtedclosures or Lcaps are movedtoaposition wherein the sealing vheads A areapplied lto the ftops; of the capped lbottles-in order to distort-.or congurate.the.-,cap .skirts into closedV orsealingengagement with-,the

bottle or receptacle mouths.

{Thearrangement of our inventionis preferably .fabricated as a portable and .adjustable .unitary .structure .which is adaptable ,and usable with Avarious Ytypes and .kinds of receptacle .lling mechanisms. To :thisiend'the-arrangement of our-invention -is-.mounted upon or supported-by a-tubular-member or-post' 20which is vertically vslidable within a pedestal or :frame member ..2 I The pedestal 2'I andtubular member 20 are-con nected together by suitablegearing (not shown) similar-in-designand -function to that disclosed in @atenta-'304,146 4,invention of C. H. -Brintorr granted-,0K1 Decemberg, 19.42. This Ygearing is ffor the purpose -of r elevating or `lowering the Vtubular member orpostStand-mechanism carried .thereby relative tofthef-pedestal or frame-member 2|, the gearing being operated-:by the-application -of a hand-crank (not-shown). The postor mem- .ber` is provided at its upperend Awith -a platform or uniplanar portion 24 to which is secured-antip- .plemental hollow -.or box-like frame 125. .Supported upon the frame member 24 is an electrically lactuated motor ,-21 4or other suitable ,power means for operating the-yariousicomponentsfand mechanisms.

Secured upon the upper `portion ofthe frame .member A25 is a bracket 28 .which carries at -its outer extremity a box-like housing `29 .which-encloses switching mechanism -(-not shown) for controlling the operation Vof the'motor 21. The switch boX 29 supports a startingbutton 39 and a stop button -3I for-completing and breaking the motor circuit. A metal conduit 32 fconnects the-switch box 29 with a junction box 33,.thecon .duit-and box {i3-containing wiring ,completing the motor circuit. A current supply cable (not shown) s-connected to the-switch box-29.

The-motor 21 -is provided with-a shaft 33 =which Iprojects exterior-ly of Ythe lmotor 4casing and is provided with a driving pulley 31. The pulley 3 -1 is connected bymea-ns of -ia -belt 3.8 with a-pulley .39 mounted upon-a shaft 49 which forms apar-t of a vacuum pump 4I. As the vacuum pump .or

suction producing .means rIII is of .conventional .construction -the details have not been illustrated. The vacuum pump-4I is inclusive-of `a housing l42 which is secured by meansof bolts 43 toa bracket .or arm 44, v.the latter being provided with a split boss portion 45 which `is Ybored .to ,receive .a pin-.or

stub shaft 46 carried by the frame member 25. The box portion 25 is securely clamped into engagement with shaft 46 by means of a clamping bolt 41. A grill-like guard or shield 49 is provided for enclosing the pulleys 31, 39 and the belt 38. ,The .guard issecured to..the. arm-44.by means of .ifa .bracket 50, and to an arm i5I mounted upon the stub shaft 46 by means of a bracket 52.

Our arrangement is inclusive of means for supporting a plurality of nested articles or closures lisinclusive.:of a magazine 54 of trough-like --conguration containing a supply of skirted caps .or .c1osures-.55. The-platform 24 of the machine fra-me is `provided with an extension 56 upon Iwhich is-xedlymounted a bracket or member 51 ewhich'isheldin; place by means of bolts 58. The

. bracket 51 is .formed with an angularly arranged pad Vportion'59*towhich is secured a housing or enclosure. 60. A cover plate 6I is secured to housing 6|] by means of screws 62. The housing 6B has a hollow interior, vwhich rwith plate I forms a -rectangular Yclosed section servingvas. a-.guide 4for areciprocable .plunger .or `member .63 -mounted therein. The.member..53,isiprovided--with a lat- ;erallyextending pinbrstub shaft :65 which .pro-

jects ..through a longitudinally. extending .slot .58 Iformed ,in the. side .wall .of the .housing 4lill, .the `projectingportion of-.thepin E5 being adapted toreceive.a hollow boss .portion .'61 .formed ras .an integral. extremity of a; pitmanr or` connecting rod 68, the opposite end of which is provided-with -a similar-hollow boss .portion 6.9.adaptedtot .over a journalpin 1D.carried by acarnor cam disc 1I, thelatter beingxedlymounted upon-a shaft 12. The housing end plate.13 ofthe motor 21.1s formed with anextensionor housing -14 .withinwhichis journaled .the cam carrying -shaft 12 and reduction gearingmot shown) driven-by the.motor.21 .for rotatingthe cam .1I at az greatly reduced-speed as comparedwith that ofthe motor shaft .3.6.

Theslidable member .63 is formed with a longitudinal .bore.or chamber .11.and projectinginto .the upperendof the bore is a-metal-tube 'I'fupon which is mounted an outwardly aringcup or member 19 formed .of .rubber or vother .suitable eXible material. Theslidable member'63 moves .the .cup .19 into engagement or Acontact -with the lowermostclosure 4in thamagazine 54 to' transfer the closure to a different -position utilizing -a vacuumor.sub-atmosphericpressure as a securing medium.

The bracket 51 is provided with a second pad portion-82 which supports a member-83 of a hollow'conguration, the hollow member or closure .83 having a chamber-directly beneath and in alignment with the terminus of the closure supportingmagazine-M. rPhe magazine 54 is supported by meansof a .bracket-85 being'secured lthereto by means -of vscrews -86 the bracket v85 being secured to the hollow member 83 by means of securing bolts 81 .as shown .in Figure 3. The member B3 is formed .at the upper end of fa closure delivery -chute 89. The chute 89 is formed with an angularly depending portion 90 to the Vlower extremity of which is removably secured la chute extension 9|. The chute portions 90 and 9| as shown in Figure 2 are pro- .vided with Yhinge plates 92 rand 93 having inter-- engagingor overlapping portions arranged to receive a pivot or hinge pin r94 having a nger'grip .portion 95 to facilitate removal and re-assembly Aof vthe pin 94 with ithe :hinge `plates 92 and 93. A flexible member or ychain I9b is connected Ato the grip portion 95 and to the chute portion i90 Ito prevent loss of the pin 94 when the same is disconnected from the hinge or connecting plates.

Secured to the lower adjacent walls `of chute sections 90 and 9| are plates 99 `and |00 which are provided with over-lapping portions as shown in Figure 1l. The overlapping portions of the plates 99 and |00 are each provided with apair of openings |02, and which are adapted for selective alignment to receive a securing or positioning pin |05 as shown in Figures 5 and` 11. The purposes of the series of aligned openings in the over-lapping vportion is to provide for an adjustment of the chute portion 9| so thatthe position of the closure applying station |06 may be varied or changed to accommodate various sizes of milk bottles or other receptacles; The milk bottles being of different sizes" occupy a relatively diiierent position on their supporting means as they are moved from the lling machine shown in Figure 1 to the cap applying station |06. By selecting the proper pair of openings and inserting the pin |05 in the over-lapping portions of members 99 and |00 the cap applying station |06 at the Vterminus of the chute extension 9| may be shifted laterally into three diierent positions. Thus when the arrangement of our invention is used to cap bottles of different capacities, such as half-pints, pints and quarts, the pin |05 may be inserted in the proper set of aligned openings to position the cap apply- V;

ing station |06 in the proper relationship to the size of milk bottles being capped to insure that the closure or cap will be properly applied to the bottle mouths.

It should be noted that the chute is arranged to accommodate the skirted caps with the plane of the cap crowns disposed in a vertical position so that the caps or closures move Vdownwardly in the chute being supported by the exterior walls of the cap skirt portions.-

Our invention includes means whereby the caps are moved from the magazine 54 into the hollow member 83 thence into the delivery chute by combined mechanical and vacuum means.

The tube |09 constituting the inlet for the Vacuum pump 4| is connected to the pump by means of the fitting ||0 as shown in Figure, and is joined at its opposite end to a T-shaped tting shown in Figures 3 and 4. The tting communicates with and is supported by a tube ||2 extending into an opening in the lowerportion of the housing 60 as shown in Figure 4. As particularly shown in Figure 4, the slidable member 63 is provided with an opening 4 which is adapted, when member 63 is `at its uppermost position as indicated in dotted lines, to register lwith the tube ||2 so as to establish communica.- tion between the bore 11 and tube ||2. The lower wall of the housing 60 is provided with a passage or Vent ||6 open to the atmosphere and with which opening ||4 establishes communication when the member is in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4.

The tube H8, connected at one end lto the T-shaped fitting has its opposite end `ioned is a sleeve or hollow valve member |23 which is closed at one end yby means of a head .|24 of .larger diameter than that of the sleeve 23. Surrounding the sleeve I 23 and disposed between boss |20 and the head |24 is an expansive coil spring |25 which functions to normally maintain the sleeve |23 in the relative position shown in full lines in Figures 3 and 9. As will be seen in Figure 9, a wall of the sleeve |23 is provided with a vent opening |26 which is adapted, when the sleeve |23 is moved to the dotted line position, to register with the tube ||8 so as to permit the flow of air into the tube I8 for the purposes of breaking the vacuum which normally exists in tubes |09, ||2 and 8 under the influence of the vacuum pump when the latter is in operation.

The outlet ||5 of the vacuum pump leads into the hollow frame portion 25 so that any oil entrained in the air stream because of suction acting on the lubricated surfaces of the reciprocating element 63 will be ejected into the fram portion 25.

The arm |2| is formed at its upper end with a boss portion |28 which is bored to it over the end of a shaft |29 and is arranged to be clamped thereto by means of a locking bolt |30. The shaft |29 is journaled upon two upwardly extending projections |3| formed upon the member 83, Fixedly mounted upon th-e opposite end portion of the shaft |29 by means of pins |33 is a cylindrical member |34 provided with an upwardly extending arm |35 provided at its end portion with a stub shaft upon which is joui'- naled a cam follower or roller |36, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, which is disposed in the path of the cam contour formed peripherally on cam disc 1|. Means are provided for urging the cam follower |36 into engagement with the cam comprising contractil coil spring |33 which is connected to an arm or bracket |39 secured to the housing 25 by means of a bolt |40.

A rod |43 having a bifurcated end portion |44 straddles the connecting rod |2| and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin |45. The shaft |43 extends through a suitable guiding means or block |46 which is bored to slidably accommodate the shaft, the block being secured to the top wall of the section of the closure delivery chute 89. The opposite end of the shaft |43 is provided with a depending arm |41 lxedly secured to the shaft by suitable means so as to move laterally with the shaft. The lower extremity of the arm |47 is formed with a threaded opening adapted to receive a screw |48 having a pad or head portion |49, the screw |48 being adjustable in the arm |47 and is adapted to be retained in adjusted position by means of a locking nut |50. The side wall of the chute section 90 is provided with an opening |21 arranged so that the head |49 of screw |48 may pass therethrough for the purposes of loosening or freeing a cap that may adhere to the side wall of the chute section resulting from pressure exerted upon the cap by the head |24.

As will be hereinafter explained in connection with the operation of the machine, the closures 55 in the magazine are selectively removed therefrom by vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressure existing within the rubber -cup i9 when the latter is brought into engagement with the lowermost closure in the magazine by mechanicalvmeans. Each closure is selectively extracted and moved into the hollow member 83, and means is provided for striking the closure to aid in removing the same into the delivery chute. To this end, the housing cover 6|, shown in Figures 3 and 4, is provided with a plate |5| formed with upwardly extending projections|52 provided at their upper portions with 4'alignedopenings farrangedfvto receivefand=accominodatefa Ipin |53. 'Journaled or iulcrumed'vupon 'pin |53 is a leverY member or arm |54. A'The shortV arm of the lever terminates in"a"depending portion IE5-which acts as a stop means'for limitingy the pivotal movement of the member 54 inone 'directionof movement as vindicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. The member |54 is normally held in the dotted line` position asindicated in `Figure 4 Vby means of a coil spring |58 which connects the end of member |54 with a projection |51 formed on `the housing cover plate 8|. The extremity of the long arm vof the lever'is formed with a head or pad portion |60 `which is -arranged to engage a closure as hereinafter explained.

The lslidable member or plunger 63' is formed with a longitudinally extending raised portion or cam |6| which upon movement of member-53 .toward its lowermost position engages a-.projection or finger |54 lformed rintegrally with the lever 0r arm |54. Engagement of cam |6| with the nger |94 moves the arm |54 about itslfpivotal lsupport |53 to the position shownin full lines in Figure 4. If the vacuum is -eiective in cup 19 to extract a closure from vthe magazine 54, and such extracted closure istransferred by cup 19 to the chamber in member 83, the vacuum within the'cup 19 and bore 11 is relieved Vby registration of opening||4 in member 63 4'with the vent I8 ope'nto the atmosphere, the arm |54 strikes or impinges upon the extracted closure in the hollow portion 83 to move the closure laterally into the delivery chute/89.

The means for effectingthe proper application of a skirted cap or closure from the delivery chute 89 to the mouth of a bottle |61, sometimes referred to as a cap applying station, is particularly illustrated in Figures 2, 3,' 5, and 6. The closure discharge or serving outlet |58 is slightly enlarged over the normal depth of the delivery chute, and the side walls thereof` pivotally support the winglike members |69 and |10, each having curved portions |1| which are arranged to engage or contact the mouth portion of a bottle |61 as the same passes the cap applying outlet or station. The wing-like members or curved ngers |89 and |10 are preferably held in their innermost-position by means of a contractil spring |12, the ends of which are suitably secured to posts |13 formed on each wing-like member. The spring |12 functions to urge the members |69 and |10 to contact with the skirt of the container closure, but the mounting permits the release of a closure when the same is engaged by ,a bottle or container moving through the cap applying station. Secured to the lower extremity of the delivery chute section 9| by means of bolts |15 is a bracket |16 supporting a shaft |11 upon which is pivotally mounted a closure or cap leveling means or member |18. In the embodiment illustrated, as will be seen from the examination of Figure 3,.the cap leveling or positioning`mmbe'r118'is of 'triangular shape in cross section so'that the center of gravity of member |18 is spaced vertically from a vertical plane through the pivot shaft |11. By thisarrangement member 11 is urged into engagement with the closure in the mouth of the outlet in position to be placed upona container mouth so that when the bottle |61 contacts the closure in the cap applying station |06 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the member |18 will continue to engage the closure as it movesunder the same and upon the bottle mouth so that the closure Will be fitted properly upon the same. The's'winging movement of"me'mber |11'towardlthe'clos`ue in the capiapplyingstation'or outlet inthef'de'- livery chute is limited by anabutment or suitable fmeans (notshown) which serves to prevent'the member |18'fro'm dislodging the lowermost' c1osure inthe delivery chute before a bottle isrin position to remove a closure.

Figure El2 'illustrates a form of flexible' closure or cap especially congurated to be placed upon amilk bottle mouth. This type 'of cap is formed of inner'and outer layers of paper designated |93 and |8| "between which is disposed alay'r of thin metal foil |92. The inner and outer la'yersof--paper are usually coated 'with wax or other suitable'waterproof non-drying coating, thewaxinterior'surface ofthe closures serving to`form an effective seal forthe bottle mouths. Thefpresenceof wax or other protective'coating 'upon'the closures causes vadjacent closures`in nested rlationship'to tend to adhere to ione another. 'Our arrangement of mechanism embodies a 'means for distorting the closures "as they pass downwardly through the outlet 'bf the magazine 54. This'means is inclusive 'ofa hollow'member |88 having a ilange portionl |8| and a body portion which is formed with a plural- 'ity of radially disposed'kerfs or slots |83, which construction simulates a c'ollet formation. The interior ywall offthemember |88 is of tapered cong'uration |84 terminating in'a cylindrical mouth or outlet |85,'and the exterior wall of member |88'bein`g' formed 'with'a threaded'p'ortion |86. The lower extremity 'oi the member |89has'a tapered exterior wall |81. Threaded upon portion |88 is an adjusting collar |88 having a reciprocally tapered surface arrangedto lengage the tapered surface |81 of member |80. The adjusting collar |88 is formed with recesses V|89 adapted vto receive Va Spanner wrench (not shown) for'the purpose of adjusting the collar axially of the member |88. Such longitudinal fadjustmnt'provides a means for'increasin'g or decreasing the effective interior diameter of wall l|85 of'me'mber |88. Thus when'the lowermost f the closures 54 movemdown'war'dly into the tapered'int'rior portion'lll of member |88 during a 'closure extracting operation carried on by "means of the reciprocable member 63, cup 19a`nd sub-atmospheric pressures the skirt wall of the lowermost closure 'is distorted toward the longitudinal axis of the member |89 causing a 'slight curvature o'r distortion of the crown .portion vof the closure which electively breaks or eliminates adhesion between waxed surfaces of 'adjacent caps or closures and separates the cap 'being extracted from its next adjacent cap inthe magazine. Thus only one cap is withdrawn at each rextractive movement of member '563. The collar |88 is adjustable axially with respect to the collet-like member to obtain just suflcient distortion of the closure or vcap 'configuration to eiect a separation of the closures. Y

The operation of the arrangement of y our invention is as follows: The magazine 54 is lrst filled with'a supply of nested skirted closures or 'caps 55, and the starting button 38 in switch box 29 depressed, completing the motor circuit thus energizing the electric motor 21. This operation initiates the lrotation of the cam 1| through the gearing contained within the gear box 14 and at the same time, operation of the vsuction means or pump 4| is begun. Rotation of the cam 1| vactuates the pitman 68 which is connected to themember '63 whereby the latter is' "reciprocate'd longitudinally in the housing 68.

ljuring the reciprocation of member 63, the vac# uum pump 4| being in operation, a suction or sub-atmospheric pressure is established. in the tubes |09, I I 2 and I I3 so as to impress sub-atmospheric pressure in the bore 11 in member 63 and in the interior of the flexible rubber closureengaging cup 19. It should be" noted with particular reference to Figure 9, that the vent in the sleeve |23 is out of registration with tube ||8 so that air under atmospheric pressure will not normally be admitted to tube I|8 through vent |26. Thus, until the cap 'I9 is invengagement. with the lowermost closure in the magazinell air is admitted through the ared open end of the cup 19 under the inuence of theV suction pump 4|. Q

At the instant the iiared open end of the vflexible cup 19 engages the interior surface of the crown portion of the lowermost closure in the magazine 54, the closure acts as a valve to interrupt the flow of air into'the cup 19, so that the pressure within the cup and its connecting passageways is reduced below atmospheric pressure under the iniiuence of the suction pump 4|, causing the said closure to yadhere to the cup 19. Continued rotation of cam 1| causes a downward slidable movement of member 63 and cup 19, carrying the lowermost closure through colletmember |80 into the hollow portion or chamber A831.7 `As the closure` moves through the collet 180, the skirted portions of the closure Aor cap are distorted inwardly to break or disrupt any adhesion of the waxed interior and exterior surfaces of adjacent caps so that only the single lowermost closure in the magazine isl withdrawn by the cup 19 during a single cycle of reciprocation of the member 63. 1

When the cup 19 reaches a position in its downward travel such that the lower edges of the skirted portion of the closure engages the inner base surface of thechamber in portion 83, theV vent opening V||4 in men'iberv 63 has reacheda point of registration withA passage ||6 to the atmosphere to admit atmospheric air. under atmospheric pressure to the interior of the cup 19 and passages associated therewith. The vrestoration of atmosphericjpressure `in cup 19 immediately releases the rclosureinthehollow member 83, and further 'n slidable movement of member 63 downwardlymoves the .cup v19 to the positionshownin fullglines Vinvligu're 3, out of the path of subsequent movement of the extracted or withdrawn closure. As the member 53 approaches the` end V,of the) downward phase of its moveme'nuthe land or raised por.- tion |6| engages the ringer |v'641causing the pad portion |60 on lever |64 to move to theposition indicated in full lines in vFigure 4 whereby the pad portion' |60 impinges or strikes the extracted closure resting in the chamber in member -83 to initiate downward movement of the closurefinto the delivery chute 89. The vdelivery chute is of such configuration, that `the skirted caps roll downwardly in the chute,.the caps being supported upon the lower'wall of the chute through the extremity of the, closure.delivery-chute secr' tion 9|. "f l lWith each'rotation of: *the- (cam 11 member 5,3 fwiltlbe .recprocated:to'fwithdraw;or .extract ai 'closure -from the'nest "of closure 55 in the magazine, and this action continues whereby the clo-V sures are selectively and' successively fed vinto the delivery chute89 until a'number of closures as indicated in Figures 2 and 5 are disposed therein.

It should be noted that at each revolution of the cam 1| the arm |2| is oscillated by reason of` the" cam roller or follower |36 engaging a proper configurating lobe 15 upon the cam 1| to cause rotation of shaft |29 and hence oscilla--A tion of arm v|2|. The lobe configuration on cam 1| is of such contour as to move the pad or head portion |24 carried by sleeve |23 through an opening in the side wall of thechute section |21. As long as the delivery chute 89 is not filled with caps to a point where a cap Vwill obstruct the opening in the chute in alignment with the -head portion |24, closures or caps will continue to be delivered into the chute 89 Vas hereinbfore de` scribed. However, whenv the chute 89 contains a predetermined number of caps*V whereby a capis disposed over opening |21 inthe chute as shown in dotted lines in Figure'3,'the oscillation of arm |2| in its usual cycle brings the head or pad portion |24 formed on'sleeve |23 into engagement with the interior of the crown of a closure or` cap,"the same actingas a temporary abutment to kmomentarily stop Athe movement of sleeve |23. When said pad |24'presses against a closure,.'it presses the 'exterior surface of the central part of the closure'a'gainst the vertical side' wall of the chute, releasing the skirt portion ofthe closure' from contacting the opposite vertical side of the chute.As 'the arm I2! con-'- tinues a slight vdistance in a right hand direction as viewed in Figure 3` after the pad |24 engages the interior of a closure in a chute, the spring |25 will be compressed, and the sleeve |23 will move inwardly 'in the boss portion |20 formed upon the lower end of arm 2|bringing the vent opening |26 into registration withthe tting ||9 connecting the tube |I8 with the boss |20 to admit atmospheric air intothe tubes |18, ||2 and |09 and bore 11 as wellV as the interior of cup 19 to prevent the existence of sub-atmos-4 pheric pressure in cup 19. Thus with vnormal atmospheric pressure in cup 19, continued reciprocation of member 63 will merely bring cup 19 into engagementwitha Iowermost closure in'y the magazine 54, and in the absence of suction or reduced pressure existing in cup 19, further extraction of closures from the magazinewill be interrupted until the closure in `the chute -89, lying'in'the path of lateral movement of pad 24, is moved downwardly, no further feeding of closures from the magazine into the delivery chute will take place. f Y v The head |49 of screw |48, carried by arm |41 and reciprocated by arm 2| through the medium of shaft |43, moves into the opening |21 in the side wall of the chute and slightly engages the exterior surface of the crown of the closure for the purpose of loosening the said abutment closure to preventl same fromgadhering to the side wall of the delivery chute under the pressure of the head |24. By this means thefolosure act. ing as a temporary abutment, will be in a loos. ened condition to move downwardly upon the removal of further` closures from the chute at the closure applying station. After the bottles or\containers Vare filled wit milk or other commodity from the tank I5, they are'consecut-ively conveyed past the cap applyinggstation. as shown 1in the drawingsand particularly vligure l.. AS a filled; .bottle I 61 y.reaches the l cap` applying station 6 the bottle m0111319? lip `engages the closure as shown in Figuresrz and. 3,-"and as thebottlepasses between theyresiliently retained lfingers Hill4 and |10',l the closure disposed int applying position is released and the leveling plate directs the closure V.on to the bottle mouth during, movement of the bottle through the cap applying station. As soon as a closureis withdrawnfrom thechute atthe capr applying station, the closure disposed in alignment with the opening |21 in the delivery chute moves` downwardly, so that upon the nextnoscillatory movement of arm |2| under the influence of the rotatingA cam 1|, the pad |24 willi nctengage' a closure in the chute so that sub-atmospheric pressureor suction willtbevim- Blessed inthe bore inmember |53Y and in the interiQlfof cup 1,9. Thus when thelcup '|9 en gagesa, lowermost cap in magazine 54 the cap wills-be caused to adhere, by suction, to the cup and will be extracted, from the closure supply and Amovedirlto.thedelivery chute in the manner` hereinbefore explained.

Due tothe diierence in sizes of containers, as for example, quarts, pints and half pints, the bottles in moving to cap applying position aequirea slightly different` relative position by reason of the diierenceindiameters of the 1b.ot. tles. In order to assure that the various sizes ofbottles or containers will, pass the capapplyingl station in proper relation thereto, section 9| ofthe closure delivery, chute may be adjusted by. positioning the pin ||l5 `in the proper openings of the overlapping portions of member 99 and IQQso thattheV chute section 9| pivots about the pin 94 as particularly shown in Figures 2 and 11.

It twill' be seen from the foregoing that we have provided ya closure feeding and applying mechanism which is simple, yet eiective and entirelyautomatic in its operation, and is. particularly adaptable for supplying short skirted caps to bottles without injuring the skirted por. tions of the caps andvyet assuring that'the caps willv besuccessively moved to the applying sta-y tion by reliable means;

It is` apparent/that, within the scope of the invention,v modifications and ldifferent arrangements maybe made other, than is herein dise closed, and the present 'disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention'comprehending` allzvariai` *2119115 therepf- What we claim is:

1. In combination, a frame; a closure retaining means supportedby said frame; said retaining' able to release saidrclosur froinsaid engaging means to deposit thesamefinto the top portion of s'aid receiving chute sol that 'it'will' roll 'downwa'rdly therein meanscontr'olled lby the presence" of a predetermined number'of'closures'in saidchute for rendering'fsa'idl2 closure engaging and! 12 withdrawing .meansinefiectiv.e; said means ncluding a mechanically driven. oscillating arm carrying a hollowboss at its lower v.end,.said boss having a hollow plungerslidably mounted therein, said hollow plunger closed at one endv by` a solid head portion, a coil type compression spring mounted between said boss and said head to resilientlymaintain said plunger head away from said boss, a stop pin inserted in said plunger at the open end .thereof,.said plunger open to the atmosphere at its opposite end, a port opening in the side wall of saidbossinto which a subn atmospheric air line is'f attached; a port opening in the side wall of said hollow plunger to admit atmospheric air to said port in 'said boss, an

opening in each side of the'delivery chute so that said plunger head may vpass therethrough a5 said arm oscillates, said plunger' head adapted to engage the interior of the'crown of one of the latestA extracted closures in the delivery chute to stop the substantially 'horizontal movement of said plunger whenever a closure in the delivery chute is in its path of 'travel horizontally through said chute as said arm oscillates, by the interruption of the travel of said plunger said port opening combinedV with said plunger is operated to admit air' into saidport opening 4in saidboss and into the line'carrying subatmospheric pressure to said closure engagirgfmeans to control the extraction of caps 1from' said magazine and said oscillating arm supporting an' auxiliary arm intermediate its vends which supports a head member in line with'and extendingtowards said plunger carried by saidboss', said headmember adapted to contact th'ejexternal crown portion oiany closure obstructing rits path ofV travel as it passes through one ofthe openings in the delivery chute, said headmenjiber adapted to move said closure away from the sideof said delivery chute so that it may drop 'downvvar dlyk into. the lower portion of said chute. Y

'2. In combination,` a frame a closure retaining means supported by saidriramegsaid retaining means adapted to' temporarily hold a plurality of closures to be delivered 'a receiving chute connected to, said receiving'means and inclined from the horizontal; vs'aid,chute'r'being`of such size and positionpto` supportfsaidgelosures in a vertical plane; said chutegha'vingna single serving outlet; closure engagingwmeansincluding a relatively movable hollow memberV adjacent to, said retaining means; a line; carrying` 1sub-a't 'n1ospheric air connectedtosaidfhollow'member; a source of sub-atmospheric,pressure including a continuous suction meanvsj a positive mechanical mechanism for moving said closure engaging means into extracting engagementfwithone closure from said closure retaining, meansuand', transporting said closures'to 'said receiving chute; a positive mechanical means operable to release said closure from 4saidzengag'ir'ig V'means tol deposit the same into the top'portionoffsaid receiving chute so that it will r'oll downwardly therein; means controlled bythe presenceof'a predetermined number of :closures in'sad chute for rendering said closure engaging and withdrawing means ineffective; 'said means including a mechanically driven oscillating arm oariyinga hollow boss at its lower end', said bosjshaving'a hollow plunger slidably Ymountedv'ther'einr, fsaid hollow plunger closedat one end by 'alsolid headportion, a coil type compressionspring mounted between said boss and said head to resiliently maintain vsaid plunger head awayfrom said'b'oss,` a s'top means. inserted,inzfsaidrplungerfat1the open-endfthereof,

said plunger open to the atmosphere :at its opposite end, a port opening in the side wall of.- said boss into which sub-atmospheric air line is attached; a port opening in thesidejwall of said hollow plunger to admit atmospheric airto said port in said boss, an opening in each side of the delivery chute so that said plunger fhead may pass therethrough as said arm "oscillates, said plunger head adapted to engage the interior of the crown of one of the latest extracted closures in the delivery chute thereby stopping the 'substantially horizontal movement of' said plunger whenever a closure in the delivery chute is in its path of travel horizontally'as it passes through said chute as said arm oscillates, no pressure being applied to the skirt portion of the closure, by the interruption of the travel of said plunger said port opening combined with said plunger is operated to admit air into said port opening vin said boss and into the line carrying'sub-atmospheric pressure to said `closure engagingi means to control the extraction Vof'caps from said magazine, and said oscillating 1 arm supporting an auxiliary arm intermediate its ends'which supports a head member in line with and extending towards said plunger' carried by saiduboss;` said head member adapted'to contact the external crown portion of any closure obstructing its path of travel as itpasses through oneof the openings in the delivery chute,'said` head memberiada'pted to move said closure'saway from the sideof said delivery chute so that it may` .drop downwardly into the lower portion o'f saidfchute.,`

3. In combination, a frame; closure retaining means supported by said-frame; each retaining means adapted to temporarily hold a plurality of closures to be delivered; :a receiving chute connected to saidreceiving means and inclined from the horizontal; said `chute being of such size and position to support said closures in. a vertical plane; said chute having a single serving outlet; closure engagingmeans'including .a relatively movable hollow member adjacent' to said retaining means; a line carrying sub-atmospheric air connected to said hollow member;y apositive mechanical mechanism for moving said closure engaging means into extractinglengagement with one closure from `said closure retaining means and transporting said closuresxto said receiving chute; a positive mechanical means operable to release saidclosure .from said engaging means to deposit` the same into vthe top portion of said receiving' chute so that it will roll downwardly therein; means movable laterally through said chute controlledfby the presence of a predetermined number.. off closures in said chute for rendering said closure engaging and withdrawing means, ineffective; means including a mechanically driven ocillating arm carrying a hollow bearing member at' its lower end, said bearing member having 'a hollow plunger slidably mounted therein; :said

hollow plunger closed at one endk by a solidhead portion, a coil type compression spring mounted between said bearing member and said headjto resiliently maintain said plunger head'away from said bearing member, a stop means: inserted inv said plunger atgthe open end thereof; said plunger* open to the.. atmosphere; -at` its 1 opposite end, Aa port opening in theside wall of said bear-.l ing member into. which sub-atmosphericair line. isiV attached; 'a .portfopening inthe side wall ofv said hollow plungergto admitsdatmospheric aire to. :said port. in .said bearing. member, an-cpanel ingiin. each iside.. ofgthadelivery chutezssoiithati said plunger head may pass therethrough as" said arm oscillates, said plunger head adapted to engage the interior of the crown of one of the latest extracted closures in the delivery chute thereby stopping the substantially horizontal movement of said plunger whenever a closure in the delivery chute is in its path of travel horizontally through said chute as said arm oscillates and by the interruption of the travel of said plunger said port opening combined with said plunger is operated to admit air into said port opening in said boss and into the line carrying sub-atmospheric pressure to said closure engaging means to control the extraction of caps `from said magazine.

4. In combination, a frame; a container closure delivery chute supported upon the frame; a vmagazine adapted to contain a supply of skirted closures; a relatively movable mechanical member; pneumatic means associated with said relatively movable member arranged to engage and transport said closures away from said magazine; means engageable with the withdrawn closure for ejecting same into the hollow -up` per portion of the delivery chute whereby each skirted closure will roll downwardly to the lower portion of the chute where the closure is supported by its skirt'wall; a mechanically driven oscillating arm movable periodically into the path of said closures in said delivery chute; said arm carrying a hollow boss at its lower end, said boss having a hollow plunger slidably mounted therein, said hollow plunger closed at one end by a solid head portion, a coil type compression spring mounted between said boss and said head to resiliently maintain said plunger head away from said boss, a stop pin inserted in said plunger at the open end thereof, said plunger open to the atmosphere at its, opposite end, a port opening in the side wall of said boss to which sub-atmospheric air line is attached; a port opening in the sidewall of said hollow plunger to admit atmospheric air to said port in said boss, said arm being arranged whereby engagement thereof with the interior of a closure disposed in said chute renders said closure extracting means ineffective; said plunger arranged to move laterally and by the contacting of the plunger with the inside of said closure said ports will coincide to admit atmospheric air into the line of said pneumatic means associated with said mechanical member; an element movable into contact with the closure in said chute engaged by said periodically movable means for freeing said closure to pass downwardly in the chute; a closure applying station associated with the extremity of said delivery chute, and means to properly dispose the same upon a container.

' 5. In combination, a frame; a magazine supported upon the frame and adapted to contain a supply of skirted caps; aV hollow enclosure inclined from the horizontal and disposed beneath the outlet of said magazine; a delivery chute for said caps connected to said frame and with said hollow member and inclined from the horizontal; areciprocable mechanical member arranged for slidable movement with respect of said magazine;

a pneumatic element associated with said recip-I gaging element whereby a lowermost skirtedcap said magazine is influenced by saidsuctiona'nd means for impressing sub-atmos- 1S Withdrawn; by movement of said'reciprocable mechanical member and depositedinsaid hollow.v enclosure; means including a movable arm;for ejecting said caps from said hollow enclosure and causegthem to .slide downwardly uponftheir pe.- ripheral edges'into saiddelivery chute; said delivery chute being configurated in cross section* tosupportsaid caps with the crown portions in a substantially vertical plane whereby, they willY roll downwardly upon their peripheral skirt portion; said delivery chute including an adjustablesection; acap applying station associated with the-adjustable section; means for adjusting said chute section whereby the cap applying station is shifted to accommodate different sizes of containers; means associated with the extremity of the adjustable chute section andl actuated by a container to release a cap from said cap applying; station; a mechanical driven means controlled by the presence of a predetermined number of' skirted caps in said delivery chute forrendering said cap.. extracting means ineffective; said means includingan oscillating arm carrying a hollow boss atitslower end, said boss having a hollow plunger slidably mounted therein; said hollow plunger closed at one end by a solid head portion, a coil type compression spring mounted between said boss-.and said head to resiliently maintain saidplunger `head away from said boss, a stop pin insertedA in said 4plunger at the. open end thereof, said plungeropen to the atmosphere at its oppositegend, a port opening in the sidewall of said boss vtowhich sub-atmospheric air line is attached; a port opening` inthe side wallv ofv said hollow-plunger to admit atmospheric airtosaid port in-said boss.; said plunger adapted to engagethe interior of the crown-of a closuretostop themovement of said plunger whenever-a closure is.-`in,.itsy path of travel, no pressure being applied to the skirt portion of said closure, and by the -interruption of the travel of said plunger said portcombined with said plunger is operated to admit atmospheric 'air into the line carrying sub-- atmosphericpressure with-said mechanical member and pneumatic element associated therewith.

6,1m, a device ofV the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of closures in. a magazine; mechanical means for removing closures from said magazine-whereby they may pass to a deliveryl chute; pneumatic means forrendering said mechanical means effective; a delivery chute in communication with the base portionof said magazine, means actuated by a predetermined number of closures in said chute forcontrolling the degree of sub-atmospheric pressure associated with said mechanical means andfsaid-pneumatic means, said means including armechanically driven oscillating arm carrying a hollow boss -atits lower end, saidboss having a hollow plunger slidably mounted therein; said hollow plunger closed at one end by a solid'h'ead portion,- a coil type compressionspring mount-'1 ed 1 between said boss and said. head to.- resiliently maintain said plunger head awayfrom said boss, a stop pin inserted in saidzplunger atA the open end thereof, said plungerv open-fl tothe atmosphere at its opposite end,.a port-opening in the side wall of said1boss to whichsub-atmos-'z pheric air line is attached; a port cpeningfin the side wall of said hollow plunger to: admit atmos-.fA pheric air to said port in said boss; saidfplunger with .said head :portion thereon'arrangedto move laterally thru the. side of said chute` forcontact.` ingthe interior of `the crownpfa closurerifepress. ent-.and positioned vinf-.a Averticalzplane:within-said chuter andgarrangeditoffroll downwardly therein-y tdathedower portion. of isaidwchute,v whenever-.said plunger5 contacts .agclosurexnopressure is. applied topithefskirty portion. of Lsaid closure;l and by y ther contactinggofothefplunger.with: a closure said port combined'witlrsaid plunger is operated :to admit atmospheric airinto said port combined with saidy boss and theline of said pneumatic means carrying Ysub1-,atmospherici pressure to said -mechanical means.:

7.-` Inra device. ofuthe --character disclosed,A in coxrrbinatipn;l meanssfor retaining av plurality or. closures; ,af closure 1 engagingl means including a iiexible mem-ber positive. :mechanical means for moving.; said closurexfengaging meansI including; said'flexible memberzinto successive engagement' with; v.said .closures ;f ,means utilizing;y continuously operative normally .reduced pressure in cooperay tiornwithr. said flexible 4memberv for. selectively; transpositioninggsaid closures to a; delivery; chute. whereby;` said-2. closures: roll' L downwardly therein uponitheir peripheral edges-,inra substantiallyverticaliplane;l saidcchute l connectedrzto said 'ree ceiving means: anda'inclined::fromA thel horizontal;v saidtchute beingiotsuch sizefandzposition to suppor-t saidzjclosuressirr:aivertical plane; said chute havnga single:serving;:outle't; means controlled by raf predetermined numb'eroffz'repostionedv yclod sures. saidxchutefpfor periodically disconne'ctingssaidmeduced :pressure 4 fromy said flexible member v'for rendering sai-di article transposition-f ing; means ,ineffective; saidzrmeans including a-v mechanically'.c driven:oscillating:arm' carrying; a hollow` boss'` at its lower end; said boss having a hollowplungerslidably.mounted therein; said hollow; plunger closedLat one end by a solid head portion; a'coil type compression spring mounted between. said bosscand'lsaid: head to resiliently maintain Asaid plunger head away from said boss; a; stop pin: inserted kin said plunger at the open; end thereof, said:` plunger open to the atmosphere at its opposite end, a portV opening in the side' wallfoffsaid boss 'to which sub-atmospheric air linesis.: attached; a-portopening in the side wall of 'said'zhollow plunger tovadmit atmospheric air tozsaiiport insaid boss; saidl plunger with said head portionthereon adaptedtovengage the interiorxof vthe. crown of a closure to stop the movement of said plunger whenever a closure is in its path'of. travel,.no pressure vbeing applied to the4 skirt portion: of said closure,v and by the interruptiorrofy the travel of' said plunger the port combined withlsaid plunger. is registered with the port inrsaidrboss to admit atmospheric air into the Iinecarrying sub-atmospheric pressure' to said iclosure transpositioning means, and said oscillatingarm supporting an4 auxiliary arm in.. termediate its ends which supports a head member inA line with and extending towards said plungenz-carriedby said boss, said head memberI adapted*y to "contact the external crown portion of Fany closure obstructing itsY path of travel as itpassesthrough one of the openings in the delivery'chutasaid head Vmember'adapted to move said'closure away fromthe side of said delivery chute so that. it may'drop downwardly into the lower portion .of said chute.

8.'.v In combinationfafmagazine adapted'to re-` tain and support a supply of skirted articles; a de-l livery chute; means. including a relatively movable. hollow: membenarranged to be periodically brought into engagement with the lowermost of.' tlie skirtedfarticlesinzsaid magazine; means for impressing subfatmospheric pressure in the hol.

1ow.interior;of Lsaid:relatively movable member:

asm, W1'

and effective` in conjunction; with; saidmember for' withdrawing an articlefrom saidr magazine; means for directingiwithdrawn articles-into` the delivery chute; and a collet type meansfassociated with the extremityl of said article supporting magazine forV temporarily distorting the article inv position to be extracted from the' magazine wherebyl the same is separated from.4 the adjacent article; said; collet: including. a* hollow member with abody formed with` a tapered surface; a-plur rality of radially disposedkerfs running lengthwise thereof, and with threads on`r thezexteriorof said body, andan adjustingcollar. having-a tapered surface arranged to engage saidy tapered surface on said body.

9. In combination. a magazine adapted to retain and support a supply of skirted articles; a delivery chute inclined from the horizontal and arranged to receive articles from said magazine; said: chute being of such size and position to support said articles in a vertical plane; means including-a relatively movable hollow member arranged to be periodically brought into engagement with the lowermost of the skirted articles insaid magazine; means forv impressing subatmospheric pressure in the hollow interior of said relatively movable member and effectivein conjunction with saidmember for successively withdrawing articles from said magazine; positive mechanicalmeans for directing the withdrawn articles into the delivery chute so that they will roll downwardly therein; means controlled by the presence of a predetermined number of articles in said chute for rendering said article withdrawing means ineffective, and a collet type means associated with the extremity of said article supporting magazine for temporarily distorting the article in position to be extracted whereby the same is separated from the adjacent article said collet including a hollow body member with exterior threads, a tapered surface and a plurality of radially disposed slots running lengthwise thereof, and said body having an adjusting collar positioned thereon having a tapered surface arranged to engage the tapered surface on said body.

10. In combination, a magazine adapted to retain and support a supply of skirted closures; a chamber inclined with the horizontal adapted to receive articles from said magazine; a delivery chute inclined with the horizontal and connected with said chamber; means including a relatively movable hollow member arranged to be periodically brought into engagement with the lowermost of the skirted closures in said magazine; means for impressing sub-atmospheric pressure in the hollow interior of said relatively movable member and effective in conjunction with said member for withdrawing a closure from said magazine and disposing same in said chamber; mechanical means engagable with the withdrawn closure to cause it to slide laterally from said chamber into the delivery chute; said delivery chute of such size and position to support said closure in a vertical plane so it will roll downwardly in said chute; means associated with said discharge station for retaining closures in said chute; means controlled by the number of closures in said chute for rendering said closure withdrawing means ineffective; a collet type means associated with the extremity of said closure supporting magazine for temporarily distorting the closure in position to be extracted therefrom whereby the same is separated from the; next-succeeding; closure; and. means for adjusting theclosuredistortingmeans` 1 1:1. In: combinatiommeansincluding. a magazine for. supporting a plurality of caps; a delivery chute for saidf caps; areciprocable member; a flexible hollow cap engagingV element` carried` by said reciprocable member; means to impress-subatmospheric pressure to the interior of said cap engaging element whereby engagementof the latter with-a cap in the-magazine extracts a cap therefrom-under the influence ofthe sub-atmospheric pressure; means. for reciprocating said member for transferring the extracted caps toV a differentpositicn; a. pivotally supported arm; means onv'said arm engagable withl said reciprocablemember. whereby saidl arm impingesupon the transferred caps to direct same `intothe delivery` chute;I said` delivery chute of suchsize and position to. support. saidy caps in' a1 verticalplane so they;` will roll. downwardly therein; means associatedwith. the outlet for retaining caps in said chute; said: means being. actuated by containers for selectively releasing capsrfrom` said chute'outlet and-means-forf changing the relative positioni-of said'chutee to accommodate containers of varioussizesr 12; In combination; meansincluding a magazineefor supporting a plurality ofA caps; a hollow chamber beneath said magazine;A a capsupporting delivery chute inclined2 fromv the horizontal;

a reciprocable member; a iiexible hollow cap engaging element carried by said reciprocable member; means to impress sub-atmospheric pressure to the interior of said cap engaging element whereby engagement of the latter with a cap in the magazine extracts same therefrom under the influence of the sub-atmospheric pressure; means for reciprocating said member for transferring the extracted caps to a different position; a pivotally supported arm; means on said arm engageable with said reciprocable member to cause said arm to impinge upon the transferred cap to direct same to slide downwardly through said hollow chamber to the delivery chute; said chute of such size and position to support said cap in a vertical position so it will roll downwardly therein on its peripheral skirt portion; means associated with the chute outlet for retaining caps in said chute; said means being actuated by containers for selectively releasing caps from said chute; means for changing the relative position of said cap chute to apply caps to containers of various sizes; and means controlled by the presence of a predetermined number of caps in said delivery chute for controlling the impression of sub-atmospheric pressure in said cap extracting member to control the extraction of caps from said magazine.

13. In combination, means including a magazine for supporting a plurality of caps; a cap supporting delivery chute; a reciprocable member; means including a exible hollow cap engaging element carried by said reciprocable member; means to impress sub-atmospheric pressure to the interior of said cap engaging element whereby engagement of the latter with a cap in the magazine extracts same therefrom under the influence of the sub-atmospheric pressure; means for reciprocating said member for transferring the extracted caps to a different position; a pivotally supported arm; means on said arm engageable with said reciprocable member to cause said arm to impinge upon the transferred cap to direct same into the delivery chute; said chute designed to support said cap in a vertical position so it i9 will roll downwardly therein on its peripheral skirt portions; means associated with the chute outlet for retaining caps in said chute; said means being actuated by containers for selectively releasing caps from said chute; means for changing the relative position of said cap chute to accommodate containers of Various sizes; means controlled by the presence of a predetermined number of caps in said delivery chute for controlling the impression of sub-atmospheric pressure in said cap extracting member to control the extraction of caps from said magazine, and an adjustable collet type means disposed at the magazine outlet for temporarily distorting the closure in position to be extracted from the magazine whereby adhesion between adjacent closures is disrupted to assure the extraction of a single closure during each closure extracting movement of said reciprocable member.

14. In combination, means including a magazine for supporting a plurality of skirted caps; a delivery chute inclined with the horizontal; a reciprocable element; means to impress sub-atmospheric pressure to the interior of said element whereby engagement of the latter with a lowermost cap in the magazine extracts same therefrom under the influence of the sub-atmospheric pressure; said extracted caps being directed into said delivery chute where they will be supported in a vertical position so they will roll downwardly therein on their peripheral skirt portion; means disposed at the magazine outlet for temporarily distorting the closure in position to be extracted from the magazine whereby adhesion between adjacent closures is disrupted; said means including a hollow collet through which said closures are extracted, said hollow collet having a body formed with a tapered surface and a plurality of radially disposed slots running lengthwise thereof and a collar having a tapered surface arranged to engage said tapered surface on said body surrounding said collet for regulating the effective size of the interior diameter of said collet.

WILLY E. ZIMMERMAN.

HENRY C. KONRAD.

REFERENCES y CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,074,815 Tevander et al Mar. 23, 1937 2,076,116 Brinton Apr. 6, 1937 2,132,335 White Oct. 4, 1938 2,325,164 Goodwin July 27, 1943 2,340,639 Brinton Feb. 1, 1944 2,349,523 Sonnenberg May 23, 1944 

